At least 3 people killed, 38 others missing as school collapses in Indonesia: Report

ISTANBUL

At least three people were killed and 38 others remained missing after a boarding school in Indonesia’s East Java province collapsed, Jakarta Globe reported on Tuesday.

The incident took place as hundreds of students gathered for prayers, and rescue teams rushed to save dozens of students still trapped under the rubble of a collapsed prayer hall at Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said that a total of 102 people were rescued following the collapse. One of the rescued victims later died. At least 77 people were injured during the incident.

The operation has been slow and dangerous, as the partially collapsed structure remains unstable, hindering the full use of heavy equipment. Local authorities confirmed at least three people died in the incident.

Agency officials said the collapse was likely caused by fresh concrete poured earlier that day for a planned fourth floor, which the building’s foundation could not support.

“The building had just undergone roof casting for expansion,” said the head of the school, Raden Abdus Salam Mujib. “We suspect the structure was unable to bear the weight.”

Agency spokesman Abdul Muhari referred to the incident as a “technological failure disaster” and called for more stringent oversight of school construction in Indonesia.